Question

Why did Mahatma Gandhi Launch the Non-Cooperation Movement? How did this movement unite the country? Explain.

Answer 1

Hint: Non-Cooperation movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi, with the aim of self-governance and getting full independence. This is the non-violent movement which took the path of satyagraha. Looking at the conditions of India getting a violent land, Gandhi launched a non - cooperation movement against the British.

Complete answer: Britain came to India for trade, but slowly and gradually they started controlling India and made her colony. They put harsh and strict rules, policies and programmes like high rate of interest, taxes on general goods, forceful imprisonment and humiliation towards Indian people which led to ‘hartal’ or protest by Indian people against British.
Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi launched various movements and one of them was the Non-Cooperation movement which was the reaction of British laws. British in India passed the Rowlatt act even after opposition by Indian Leaders. This act curbed political activities and allowed the detention of political prisoners. Rallies were organised against this act and in retaliation, British police fired upon peaceful recession. On 13 April Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened which further spread violence and brutal repression. Looking at the violence and British atrocities, Mahatma Gandhi felt the need to launch a new movement i.e Non-Cooperation movement which includes boycotting colonial goods, Institutions and Government jobs etc.
This movement united the country as with the Non-cooperation movement, Khilafat issue was also taken up to help Muslims and Gandhiji thought both Non-cooperation and khilafat movement will unite Hindu and Muslims. Besides, it also helped different social groups like peasants, immigrant labourers, zamindars, women, students and middle class etc.

Note: In September 1920 at the Calcutta session of the Congress, Gandhiji convinced other leaders to start a Non- Cooperation movement in support of Khilafat for Swaraj and finally in December 1920 it was adopted. It was a nationwide process in which various social groups participated with its own specific aspirations.